Alberta woman awaits January trial in Halifax cheque fraud case

A former Lower Sackville woman has pleaded not guilty to 23 fraud-related charges from a cheque-kiting scheme.

Lawyer Laura McCarthy entered the pleas this week in Halifax provincial court on behalf of Laura Marie Gage, 28, who now lives in Alberta.

Judge Marc Chisholm scheduled Gage’s trial for Jan. 20.

Gage and Justin Richard Omond, 24, of Beaver Bank allegedly cashed a number of bad cheques they wrote to each other in March 2012.

A total of 22 cheques — for amounts ranging from $120 to $800 — were written on accounts from one bank and deposited at a different bank. Police allege Scotiabank, Bank of Montreal and Royal Bank branches in the Halifax area were defrauded in the scam.

The pair are charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and multiple counts of fraud under $5,000 and making a false statement in writing.

Omond, who is also free on bail, is due back in court Oct. 2 to enter pleas.